OMAHA, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- The U.S. military confirmed Saturday that a three-star admiral had been suspended due to an investigation into an apparent Iowa casino scam.
Vice Adm.Timothy Giardina was suspended Sept. 3 as deputy commander of United States Strategic Command, which has command over U.S. nuclear forces as well as space and cyberspace operations, The New York Times said Sunday.
Giardina, a career submarine officer with more than 30 years in the Navy, joined Strategic Command headquarters in Nebraska in 2011.
Capt. Pamela Kunze, spokeswoman for the Strategic Command, declined to discuss the details of the suspension. She told the Times the matters was in the hands of the Naval Investigative Service.
The newspaper said it appeared Giardina's name came up in an Iowa probe of counterfeit poker chips in play at the Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs. An Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation official said the investigation remained open and would not reveal what role the high-ranking admiral might have played in the scheme.
The Times also said it was not clear if Giardina had compromised national security or operations at Strategic Command.
